Three Alberta residents have been charged after police in Calgary and Edmonton seized more than 17.5 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine that investigators say is linked to a provincial trafficking network.
Officers executed a search warrant on a Calgary home on March 15, seizing 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of cocaine, $30,000 cash and other items including jewelry and designer handbags that police allege were purchased with proceeds from crime, the authorities said. Two people at the home were taken into custody.
Ngoc “Jennifer” Le, 32, of Calgary, has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000. Le is scheduled to appear in court on April 2.
A third individual linked to the investigation was arrested in Edmonton on March 15, and is alleged to have taken drugs from Calgary to Edmonton for trafficking.
Adrian Hoong, 28, of Edmonton, has been charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime in connection with the investigation. Hoong is scheduled to appear in court on April 9.
An additional six kilograms of methamphetamine and $4,000 in cash were seized during the arrest, according to police.
“Drug trafficking fuels organized crime networks across the country,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Jake Debolt, of the CPS District 4 General Investigations Unit.
“This investigation highlights how crime in Calgary can extend beyond our municipal borders and the importance of working together with our law enforcement partners to hold drug traffickers accountable.”
The arrests and charges come more than three weeks after Alberta police arrested a 28-year old man following a seizure of $185,000 worth of drugs by Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).
He was accused of transporting drugs to Medicine Hat after his vehicle was stopped in Brooks, 189 kilometres east of Calgary.
ALERT police said the man was also previously convicted with manslaughter in 2021 and was found to be in violation of a lifetime firearm ban from that incident. Police said they found a loaded Glock handgun as well as one kilogram of drugs in the vehicle, which ALERT alleged was being couriered into Medicine Hat.
Abdullah Mela was charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and multiple firearms-related offences in relation to the arrest.
Police next searched two homes in Medicine Hat with help with local police and seized $185,000 worth of drugs, including 1,015 grams of methamphetamine; 493 grams of cocaine; 330 grams of fentanyl; 884 hydromorphone pills; and $34,730 cash.
Two more people were charged following the home searches, ALERT said.
Omar Farhat, 50, and Bonnie Mather, 64, are facing multiple drug-related offences in connection with the investigation.
